FACTORY OPERATIONS IN SINGAPORE (Statistics)

Mr Thio Chan Bee asked the Minister for Labour and Law to state the number of factories in Singapore which closed down or ceased operations between 1st June, 1959, and 31st March, 1960; the number of persons who, as a result, lost their employment; the number of new factories which have been established and functioning during the same period; and the number of persons who, as a result, secured employment.

Mr Byrne: Mr Speaker, Sir, the number of factories which closed down during the period in question is 42. The number of new factories operating during the same period is 77. The estimated number of persons who lost their em ployment when the 42 factories closed down is 473. The estimated number of persons who secured employment when the 77 new factories opened is 1,641; a very creditable balance sheet! The number of factories which closed down prior to 1st June, 1959, but which restarted operations during the period is 2. This is given for the information of the Member for Cairnhill. The estimated number of persons employed when these factories restarted is 450.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the purpose of this question is to try to show that the forecasts of doom made by the S.P.A. during the -

Mr Speaker: Order. I must remind the Hon, the Minister that this is not the time for a debate. Questions are asked for information, and that is all. The Minister is entitled to give his inform ation, and then wait for the next move.

Mr Byrne: Sir, I shall then take your good advice.

Mr Thio Chan Bee: Mr Speaker, Sir, does the Minister then claim that the general unemployment situation in Singapore is satisfactory?

Mr Byrne: Mr Speaker, Sir, as my friend and colleague the Minister for Finance, has just said in an undertone, we have inherited a terrible problem from the previous Government, but we have got its measure and we are doing our best in a very difficult situation. I think we are doing much better than the previous Government can ever claim they have done.

Mr Thio Chan Bee: Could the Minister then please justify his statement in the Press - that if a worker were retrenched, to him it was like a death sentence?

Mr Speaker: That is a different question.